Back in the early days in this present war on terrorism, launched in
response to the events of September 11, it was advanced by many leading
cultural critics that America was a changed country now. Old fashioned
patriotism was back in vogue and the nation was more united than it had
been since the Second World War.

What a difference six months makes. Critics of America's conduct in the
war, and indeed of the legitimacy of the war itself, are everywhere. Even
Senator Majority Leader Tom Daschle, a man who should know better, all
but declared the war lost last month. We think al-Qaida and the Taliban
would disagree with his assessment, provided they stop running long enough
to be asked.

So
what makes this style of antiwar dissent popular among a certain class
of Americans? There is no one answer of course. Some are opposed to war
no matter what the struggle. Others simply subscribe to a reflex anti-Americanism.
Regardless, their arguments often fall on sympathetic ears both in and
outside of the United States.

Enter Americans for Victory over Terrorism, a new projected chaired by
culture warrior William Bennett and advised by such heavyweights as former
Director of Central Intelligence James Woolsey, Middle East scholar, author
and professor at Florida Atlantic University Walid Phares and former Assistant
Secretary of Defense Frank Gaffney.

"AVOT's objective is to sustain and strengthen American public opinion
as the war on terrorism moves forward. AVOT will promote the democratic
ideals of freedom, liberty, equality, and human rights-the very virtues
terrorist groups and terrorist states wish to eradicate-and answer those
who seek to erode our nation's resolve and commitment to fight and defeat
the evil of terrorism," states the group on its web site.

It's sexy to be antiwar, the hard part is left to the people who argue
that battle is not only necessary, it is just. AVOT has taken on that
role and they should be congratulated. They may not convince the antiwar
protesters but they provide a useful service for the rest of us by providing
a credible voice for the other side.